Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => France => Topic started by: antonizz on November 25, 2021, 07:21:39 PM
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Hi everyone,
I just wanted to share this beautiful find.
I have found it online last week, and recognized it straight away as an
early 19th century French "panier" (basket). It's made by (or attributed to)
the famous french glass factory Bercy. It's made in the French restoration period.
Circa 1815-1820.
It is made of 3 colors of opal crystal (or opaline glass).
The handle is made of fire gilded bronze (ormolu), and on both ends shaped like an animal.
I'm sure what it is yet. It looks like a bird, although I'm sure I've seen more snake versions before.
It's really a extremely rare find, and I'm quite fond about it.
Now if there's anybody that can tell me more about it, your welcome.
Even though I collect opaline glass for years, I'm a newbie when it comes to knowledge
about glass and glassmaking.
I believe it has a polished pontilmark.
But I'd love to know more about how the layers were made and attached to each other for example.
Hope you guys like it as well!!
Kind regards,
F. Antonis ;)
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More pictures:
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More pictures:
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Lovely - and rare and gorgeous :) but your photos are too small to see details! Sorry :-[
Can you upload them to a 600 x 400 pixel size please so they can be enlarged?
I recently bought an early piece of French glass too :) documented and very rare so I'm extremely pleased with it. Not quite as early as yours though.
If you have Les Opalines is there not information in there about the piece?
The way the handle is twisted and finished looks quite like a snake doesn't it? So perhaps the handle is supposed to represent a snake?
The Musée des arts décoratifs have one enamelled - the same design as yours with the handle. They call it a serpent :)
They date it 1814-1830 period. Their example is diameter 12cm height 5cm.
m
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I hope these are better..
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Thank you for your response!
Yes, I have the book Les Opalines, by Christine Vincendeau.
There are 3 examples of these kind of baskets and handles, with one close to mine.
I haven't had the time to translate yet.
I already knew about the one from MADParis.
But I have found a couple of others as well, over the years:
Links:
1) https://www.rossini.fr/lot/7996/1549261?refurl=Panier+sur+pi%C3%A9douche+%C3%A0+bord+godronn%C3%A9+en+opaline+de+cristal+savonneuse%2C+gorge+de+pigeon+et+cristal+ve
2) https://www.gazette-drouot.com/lots/6676516
3) https://www.ouaissantiquites.com/objectdetails/799052/18150/antique-shop-paris-75008
4) https://www.gazette-drouot.com/lots/11545329
5) https://www.gazette-drouot.com/lots/6676515
6) https://www.gazette-drouot.com/lots/469614
7) https://www.gazette-drouot.com/lots/3226233
Many of them have been designed by a well-known enameller "Jean-Baptiste Desvignes", who worked for Sèvres, Baccarat, Bercy and others.
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I don't know if the pieces were designed by him? I think the enamelling was done by him/the company. But the bowls were made at Bercy I believe.
Google translate is your friend when it comes to the books. It really does help to painstakingly type out the passages with the information.
I find the research part the most interesting bit of owning my glass. Translating is hard but opens up so much information and is so enlightening.
It's a gorgeous find. You are very lucky which I'm sure you already know ;)
m
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Yes, you're right.
The pieces were designed and made by these companies. Bercy, in this case.
And then some of them were transferred to Desvignes, for him (or at least his atelier) to decorate.
And yes, I think I should face criminal charges, because I only paid € 100 for it. :o
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I assume it's value is around € 2000.
But it's a hard time selling it., so it could take years.
So for now I'll enjoy it myself.
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:) well that's the way it goes. You clearly have done research and knew what you had found. :)
And that comes down to owning the books as well - they are not cheap. My books are well over Eu. 1500 now.
Yes I'd say that's about right value wise. I would find myself unable to part with it at the price you bought it for.
m
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I'm just re-reading some of my notes on early French glass and in them I see one that says Bercy was founded in 1827.
I don't have the original source for where the person got this information.
Is the date it in the book Les Opalines?
That would give a tighter date on your item possibly.
I also think the handle dates it to maybe the earlier part of production?
m
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Hi,
Excuse me for my late response.
This account is registered to an old e-mailadres, which I don't have acces to anymore.
No I don't receive any notifications.
About Bercy..
I don't know, to be honest. I couldn't find anything online.
The book dates one of them 1820-1830.
That's the one that's the same style.
The other 2 are dated later.
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You can change the email address in your profile antonizz - click the profile link in the main menu at the top of the board. If you get stuck then drop me an email and I'll change it administratively for you.